Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital of Argentina, is a food lover’s paradise. From traditional Argentine delicacies to international cuisines, this city has it all. But what if you’re on a budget? Don’t worry, because Buenos Aires is also home to some hidden gems where you can find delicious food at affordable prices. In this budget-friendly food guide, we will take you on a gastronomic journey through the streets of Buenos Aires, uncovering the best cheap eats that won’t break the bank.
Key Takeaways:
- Discovering cheap eats in Buenos Aires allows you to indulge in the city’s diverse culinary scene without overspending.
- From Bondiola sandwiches by the waterfront to mouthwatering empanadas at local bakeries, there’s something for everyone.
- Food trucks and ice cream parlors offer unique and budget-friendly dining experiences.
- Exploring the Mercado de San Telmo and wandering the streets of Buenos Aires will lead you to hidden culinary gems.
- Don’t miss the opportunity to try the famous dulce de leche ice cream, a classic Argentine favorite.
Enjoying a Bondiola in Costanera Sur
Costanera Sur is a picturesque walkway along the Buenos Aires coastline, next to the Ecological Reserve and Puerto Madero neighborhood. It offers a refreshing escape from the bustling city and is a perfect spot to enjoy some delicious street food. One must-try cheap eat here is the Bondiola sandwich, a local favorite.
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A Bondiola sandwich is made with juicy pork shoulder served on toasted white bread. The pork is slow-cooked to perfection, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. You can customize your sandwich with various condiments such as salad, crisps, tomatoes, and a selection of sauces. The combination of the succulent pork and the crunchy bread creates a satisfying and mouthwatering experience.
What makes this cheap eat even better is the price. For just 18 pesos, you can savor this delicious sandwich and enjoy the magnificent views of the river. So, if you find yourself in Costanera Sur, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in a Bondiola sandwich and immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors of Buenos Aires.
Why You’ll Love the Bondiola Sandwich
The Bondiola sandwich is a beloved street food in Buenos Aires for several reasons. Firstly, the pork shoulder used in the sandwich is marinated in a flavorful blend of herbs and spices, resulting in a succulent and tender meat. The slow-cooking process further enhances the flavors, making each bite a delight.
In addition to the delicious meat, the Bondiola sandwich offers a variety of toppings and condiments to suit your taste. Whether you prefer a tangy sauce, a crunchy salad, or a combination of both, you can customize your sandwich to create the perfect balance of flavors.
Lastly, the affordable price of the Bondiola sandwich makes it even more enticing. For just 18 pesos, you can experience the unique flavors of Buenos Aires without breaking the bank. So, next time you’re in Costanera Sur, make sure to grab a Bondiola sandwich and enjoy a delectable meal with a stunning view.
Hamburgers and Panchos at Nac & Pop
Nac & Pop is a popular chain of snack stands in Buenos Aires that offers a variety of affordable options for a quick and delicious meal. Open 24 hours a day, these stands are perfect for satisfying your hunger at any time of the day or night. One of the highlights on the menu is their hamburgers, which come in various mouth-watering combinations. From classic beef burgers to vegetarian options, there is something to suit everyone’s taste.
The hamburgers at Nac & Pop are not your typical fast food burgers. They are made with high-quality ingredients and cooked to perfection. Whether you like your burger plain and simple or loaded with toppings, Nac & Pop has got you covered. You can customize your burger with lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, and a range of delicious sauces. And the best part? These tasty burgers start at just 10 pesos, making them incredibly affordable.
But Nac & Pop doesn’t stop at hamburgers. They also offer Panchos, which are Argentinian-style hot dogs. These hot dogs are served on a soft bun and topped with your choice of condiments, including ketchup, mustard, mayo, and chimichurri sauce. With prices starting at 8 pesos, they are a great option for a quick and satisfying snack on the go.
Menu at Nac & Pop
| Burger Options | Price (in pesos) |
|---|---|
| Classic Beef Burger | 10 |
| Cheeseburger | 12 |
| Vegetarian Burger | 14 |
Whether you’re craving a juicy hamburger or a flavorful hot dog, Nac & Pop is the place to go for affordable and delicious fast food in Buenos Aires. So next time you’re in the city and looking for a budget-friendly meal, make sure to check out one of their convenient snack stands.
Empanadas Everywhere
Empanadas are a beloved staple of Argentine cuisine and can be found throughout Buenos Aires. Whether you’re exploring the city’s vibrant neighborhoods or wandering down its bustling streets, you’ll likely stumble upon empanaderías and other eateries offering these mouthwatering treats. Empanadas are savory pastries filled with a delectable combination of ingredients. The most famous variety is the empanada de carne a cuchillo, which features thinly chopped beef, onions, olives, and a blend of aromatic herbs.
Vegetarian options are also widely available, with fillings such as cheese, spinach, and pumpkin. Empanadas can be enjoyed as a quick snack or as a full meal, and their affordability makes them an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers. Prices generally range from 6.50 to 7.50 pesos per empanada, depending on the filling and the establishment.
When it comes to choosing where to indulge in this traditional Argentine delight, you’ll find a wide array of options. From local pizzerías and empanaderías to bakeries and food stalls, there’s no shortage of places to satisfy your empanada cravings. Each eatery puts its own unique twist on the classic recipe, allowing you to experience a variety of flavors and culinary styles.
So, whether you’re exploring the historic San Telmo neighborhood or strolling through the trendy Palermo district, be on the lookout for the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked empanadas. These delightful pastries are a true taste of Argentina and are sure to leave you craving more.
Table: Empanada Fillings
| Empanada Filling | Description |
|---|---|
| Carne a Cuchillo | Thinly chopped beef, onions, olives, and herbs |
| Jamon y Queso | Ham and cheese |
| Pollo | Chicken, onions, and bell peppers |
| Humita | Creamed corn, onions, and cheese |
| Espinaca y Queso | Spinach and cheese |
Table: Empanada Fillings
Choripan at any open grill
One culinary delight you must try when visiting Buenos Aires is the beloved choripan – an Argentinian sausage sandwich. This mouthwatering street food can be found at open grills throughout the city, offering a delicious combination of flavors that will satisfy your taste buds. The chorizo sausage, made from a blend of pork and spices, is grilled to perfection and then placed between toasted bread. To add even more flavor, it is topped with chimichurri sauce, a tangy and herby condiment that complements the smoky sausage perfectly.
To experience the true essence of choripan, head to the San Telmo market on Sundays and seek out the renowned “El Rey de Chori.” Here, you’ll find a wide array of choripan options, each more delicious than the last. Enjoy your choripan at one of the market’s communal tables, surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere and bustling energy of San Telmo. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the local culture and savor the flavors of Buenos Aires.
“Choripan is not just a sandwich – it’s a celebration of Argentine street food culture, where locals and tourists come together to enjoy a simple yet incredibly satisfying meal.”
While the San Telmo market is a must-visit for choripan enthusiasts, you can also find open grills in other popular areas of the city, such as Costanera Sur, Palermo, and Recoleta. These grills often set up shop in parks or squares, attracting hungry crowds with the enticing aroma of sizzling sausages. Join in the culinary adventure and take a bite of Buenos Aires’ flavorful street food scene with a choripan in hand.
The Perfect Pairing: Choripan with Local Craft Beer
If you’re looking to enhance your choripan experience, consider pairing it with a local craft beer. Buenos Aires has a burgeoning craft beer scene, with numerous breweries offering a wide variety of styles and flavors. From hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts, there’s a beer to suit every palate. The crisp and refreshing taste of the beer complements the rich and savory flavors of the chorizo, creating a harmonious combination that you won’t want to miss.
Explore the Mercado de San Telmo
The Mercado de San Telmo is a vibrant and bustling indoor food market located in the heart of Buenos Aires. This historic market is a must-visit for food enthusiasts and offers a wide array of culinary delights to satisfy every palate. Whether you’re looking for traditional Argentine dishes, international cuisines, or fresh produce, the Mercado de San Telmo has it all.
Step inside the market and you’ll be greeted by a lively atmosphere filled with colorful stalls and the enticing aromas of freshly prepared food. The market is home to numerous vendors, each offering their own specialties. From mouthwatering empanadas and flavorful choripan sandwiches to artisanal cheeses and freshly caught seafood, there’s something to tempt every taste bud.
As you wander through the market, take the time to chat with the friendly vendors and sample their delicious offerings. You’ll find that many of them are passionate about their products and eager to share their knowledge and culinary expertise. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply looking to immerse yourself in the local culture, a visit to the Mercado de San Telmo is sure to be a memorable experience.
So, if you’re in Buenos Aires and looking for an authentic and diverse food experience, make sure to explore the Mercado de San Telmo. Sample the rich flavors of Argentina, discover international cuisines, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of this renowned indoor food market. Your taste buds will thank you!
“The Mercado de San Telmo offers a feast for the senses, with an abundance of delicious food options and a vibrant atmosphere that is truly unique. It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in the culinary culture of Buenos Aires.” – Local Food Enthusiast
Food Trucks in Buenos Aires
Food trucks have become an integral part of the culinary landscape in Buenos Aires, offering an array of delicious and affordable dishes. These mobile food vendors can be found throughout the city, serving up cuisines from all over the world. Whether you’re in the mood for gourmet burgers, Mexican tacos, or Asian-inspired street food, you’ll find something to satisfy your cravings.
One popular food truck event in Buenos Aires is the “BA Food Trucks Night Market,” held regularly in different neighborhoods of the city. This vibrant gathering brings together a diverse selection of food trucks, live music, and a bustling atmosphere. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample various cuisines and experience the local street food scene.
Food trucks not only offer a wide range of flavors but also provide a unique dining experience. You can enjoy your meal in an outdoor setting, surrounded by the vibrant energy of the city. Plus, with their affordable prices, food trucks provide an excellent option for those looking to enjoy a delicious meal without breaking the bank.
Exploring the Food Truck Scene in Buenos Aires
If you’re unsure where to start your food truck adventure in Buenos Aires, here are a few recommended food trucks to check out:
- El Camión Negro: This food truck specializes in gourmet sandwiches and wraps, offering a fusion of flavors from around the world.
- Taco Box: As the name suggests, Taco Box serves up mouthwatering Mexican tacos, packed with flavorful fillings and topped with homemade salsas.
- Asia Street Food: If you’re craving Asian cuisine, this food truck is a must-visit. From delicious dumplings to aromatic stir-fries, you’ll find a range of authentic flavors to tantalize your taste buds.
So next time you’re in Buenos Aires, be sure to explore the city’s vibrant food truck scene. With their diverse menus and budget-friendly prices, food trucks offer a unique culinary experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth: Ice Cream Parlors in Buenos Aires
One of the best ways to beat the heat in Buenos Aires is by indulging in delicious ice cream from the city’s renowned heladerías (ice cream parlors). With their wide variety of flavors and creamy textures, these parlors are a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. From classic favorites to innovative creations, there is something to satisfy every ice cream lover’s cravings.
Here is a list of some top heladerías in Buenos Aires that are worth a visit:
- Freddo: This iconic ice cream parlor chain has been serving up delectable treats since 1969. With over 100 locations throughout the city, you’ll never be too far away from their creamy delights. From traditional flavors like dulce de leche and chocolate to unique options like passion fruit and mint chip, Freddo offers a wide range of choices to tantalize your taste buds.
- Volta: Known for their artisanal approach to ice cream making, Volta creates small-batch flavors using high-quality ingredients. Their rotating menu features mouthwatering combinations such as coconut and lime, dark chocolate and orange, and raspberry cheesecake. With a commitment to quality and flavor, Volta is a must-visit for ice cream enthusiasts.
- Jauja: This charming heladería is dedicated to preserving traditional Argentine flavors while adding a modern twist. Jauja’s menu includes unique offerings such as yerba mate, Malbec wine, and even goat cheese and black pepper. If you’re feeling adventurous, Jauja is the perfect place to explore unconventional yet delicious ice cream flavors.
Whether you’re strolling through the vibrant neighborhoods of Palermo or San Telmo, or enjoying the picturesque views of Puerto Madero, you’re sure to find a heladería nearby. Treat yourself to a scoop or two of Buenos Aires’ finest ice cream and experience the city’s sweet side.
| Heladería | Location | Recommended Flavors |
|---|---|---|
| Freddo | Multiple locations throughout the city | Dulce de Leche, Chocolate, Passion Fruit |
| Volta | Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Soho | Coconut and Lime, Dark Chocolate and Orange, Raspberry Cheesecake |
| Jauja | San Telmo, Palermo Soho, Recoleta | Yerba Mate, Malbec Wine, Goat Cheese and Black Pepper |
Getting to the end of our blog:
Exploring cheap eats in Buenos Aires is a delightful way to discover the city’s culinary offerings without straining your wallet. Whether you’re strolling along the picturesque Costanera Sur and enjoying a mouthwatering Bondiola sandwich or indulging in traditional empanadas from one of the many local bakeries, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to satisfy your taste buds.
Don’t forget to visit Nac & Pop, a snack stand chain that serves delicious hamburgers and panchos, named after famous Argentines. And for a truly authentic experience, you can’t miss sampling the popular street food, choripan, complete with a flavorful chorizo sausage and chimichurri sauce.
For those with a sweet tooth, the ice cream parlors in Buenos Aires, known as heladerías, offer a wide variety of delicious flavors. Whether you’re a fan of traditional favorites or experimental creations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
In conclusion, the budget-friendly food scene in Buenos Aires allows you to savor the diverse flavors of the city while keeping your expenses in check. So, when you visit the “Paris of South America,” be sure to explore the cheap eats and indulge in the local culinary delights.
Bonus tips:
1. Enjoying a Bondiola in Costanera Sur:
The Costanera Sur is part of the Buenos Aires coastline, mostly a long pedestrian walkway, situated next to the Ecological Reserve and along side the most modern neighborhood Puerto Madero. There are many reasons why you should visit the Costanera Sur, but what you should never miss is eating a BONDIOLA (pork shoulder) sandwich. Just choose one of the numerous bbq food stands which line up along the Costanera and order it. After receiving a big piece of juicy meat in a toasted white bread, you can start to add different kinds of condiments which are offered on a big long table next to the stand. From salad to crisps and tomatoes, and a huge selection of sauces including chimichurri and the famous salsa criolla. You will find everything you desire. The only thing you have to do now is to sit down on a sunny place and be happy that you can enjoy a delicious sandwich for just 18 pesos (as of April 2013).
2. Hamburgers and Panchos at Nac & Pop
Spread all over the city you will find little to medium sized snack stands called Nac & Pop (which stands for “Nacional y Popular” – national and popular). Open 24 hours all year long where you can just go in and order whatever you want: different types of hamburgers to panchos (hot dogs) and even omeletes (until 12nn.). Other than their hard-to-beat low prices (as of July 2013, individual items range from AR$10&up, to complete meal with drinks at ~AR$30!), the other fun thing about this place is that all their menu items are named after famous or scandalous Argentines (mostly musicians). Food are made very quickly (properly much faster than any of the McD or BK in Buenos Aires), so you shouldn’t have to wait long. But just in case, they also blast Argentine rock music to keep you entertained.
3. Empanadas everywhere
Empanadas are probably the most famous snack in Argentina. You can find empanadas literaly every corner you go, at any pizzerías (pizza shops), empanaderías (empanada shops) or panaderías (bakeries). There are so many different types of this little stuffed pastry but the most famous one is the empanada de carne a cuchillo, which are filled with beef (thinly chopped), onion, olives, and herbs. There are vegetarian ones too. Most of the places that sell them would have at least 4-5 options for you to choose from. Some also offer oven-baked or fried versions. One of the best things of buying empanadas is that you can just buy 1 to go if that’s all you want to eat. As of July 2013, the price is running somewhere between AR$6.50 – Ar$7.50 each. There’s always a better deal when buying by the dozen but that varies by places.
4. Choripan at any open grill
Among everything, for me the most delicious and cheapest way to satisfy my hunger is a choripan, which is chorizo (a spectacular Argentine sausage) sandwiched between a toasted pan (bread, usually white and ‘french-bread-like’) and topped generously with chimichurri (a typical Argentine parsley-based sauce). You can smell them supertanning on the grill from far far away, which is not very helpful when you are very hungry, but later when you take the first bite into this piece of heaven you know, that it was sooo worth it for the wait. There are many choripan stands scattered around the city. You can be found them at the Costanera Sur, in the parks of Palermo and Recoleta, but for me as a former Chori-Junkie (i had to go to rehab to curb my consumption) the best choripan I ever had was in San Telmo. If you visit the San Telmo market on Sundays (which is a must) make sure to look for “El Rey de Chori” on the corner of Defensa and Mexico street. It is a make-shift asado in a parking lot. Their grill is as big as my apartment full of chorizos. The live music and the mixed crowd of Argentines and tourists make this place my favourite go-to place for choripan (still to this day).
FAQ
What are some cheap eats in Buenos Aires?
Some cheap eats in Buenos Aires include Bondiola sandwiches at Costanera Sur, hamburgers and panchos at Nac & Pop, empanadas from various establishments, choripan from street vendors, food options at Mercado de San Telmo, food trucks throughout the city, and ice cream from heladerías.
Where can I find Bondiola sandwiches in Buenos Aires?
Bondiola sandwiches can be found at Costanera Sur, a picturesque walkway along the Buenos Aires coastline.
What can I get at Nac & Pop?
Nac & Pop offers affordable options such as hamburgers, panchos (hot dogs), and omelets.
Where can I find empanadas in Buenos Aires?
Empanadas can be found at various establishments in Buenos Aires, including pizzerías, empanaderías, and bakeries.
What is choripan?
Choripan is a popular street food in Buenos Aires, featuring a chorizo sausage sandwiched between toasted bread and topped with chimichurri sauce.
Where can I explore diverse culinary options in Buenos Aires?
The Mercado de San Telmo is an indoor food market where you can find a wide range of delicious food options, from traditional Argentine dishes to international cuisines.
Where can I find food trucks in Buenos Aires?
Food trucks can be found at different locations throughout Buenos Aires, serving a variety of cuisines from around the world.
Where can I satisfy my sweet tooth in Buenos Aires?
There are numerous heladerías (ice cream parlors) in Buenos Aires where you can indulge in delicious ice cream, including the classic dulce de leche flavor.
What can I expect from the cheap eats in Buenos Aires?
Cheap eats in Buenos Aires offer a diverse culinary experience, allowing you to taste the flavors of the city without breaking the bank.
